A west Cork TD has been fined €300 and disqualified from driving for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in Clonakilty last summer.
Christy O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his system on the Western Rd, Clonakilty on June 2nd 2008.
Garda Brian O'Flynn of the Bandon traffic Corp told the court he was operating a mandatory breath-test checkpoint when he stopped Mr O'Sullivan.
Mr O'Sullivan failed the breath test and was arrested. He was brought to Bandon garda station where he gave a blood sample which showed a reading of 88mg per 100ml of blood, 8mg over the limit.
Superintendent Pat Maher said Mr O'Sullivan had phoned the station the following day to apologise for his actions and any embarrassment he had caused the gardai.
Mr O'Sullivan's solicitor Eamon Murray said his client was deeply embarrassed and contrite and said a mandatory driving disqualification would greatly inconvenience him in his constituency work.
Judge James McNulty said there were a number of mitigating factors in Mr O'Sullivan's favour including the fact that he was marginally over the limit, had no previous convictions and his early guilty plea.
He fined him €300 and disqualified him for 12 months beginning at the start of January.
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